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Harry frowned at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes hadn't stopped bothering him, in fact they had gotten worse.
And he could swear they looked different too. They were still emerald green… but… Harry grunted in frustration. He couldn't place the change, but something was not right.
Should I tell someone? Maybe I'm just delusional… Harry thought to himself. But really, it could be a side effect… I can't believe they dosed me with venom!
Harry had asked Dumbledore the day before what was in the cure. He was absolutely shocked when the Headmaster admitted to giving him Basilisk poison!
Deciding to think on this later, Harry changed from his pajamas to a pair of blue jeans and large black polo shirt. Harry cursed when he realized that he had most likely already missed breakfast. "Bloody hell…" He was hungry!
Ashes, lying on the bed, scolded Harry for his language with a loud bark. Harry glared at the dog in response. "Well, excuse me for being hungry, Ashes. Some people mind if they miss breakfast."
Ashes huffed in response, ignoring Harry in favor of curling up and taking a nap. Bored, Harry flopped next to Ashes, and tried to ignore his stomach by pondering his eyes.
It's probably nothing… But… Harry couldn't help but shiver when he remembered the pain from the diesease. If he had told something about that, he could of avoided that whole ordeal. But who would he trust with this? If he told Dumbledore or Pomfrey, he would be sent back to the infirmary immediately. If he told Ron or Hermione, they would panic and tell Dumbledore.
Who doesn't care enough to inform Dumbledore? Who would simply fix the problem with out making a fuss?
Snape. The Potions Master's name popped into his head.
Harry looked down at his hands. Would Snape really help him, or would he just dismiss his worries as childish complaints? Or maybe his loyalty to Dumbledore would make him tell the Headmaster of the supposed side-effect?
Maybe it would be best if Snape is a last resort. Harry decided. I'll do some research on my own first. And maybe it will go away anyway…
Giving up the hope that he would be getting breakfast, Harry left the room to go to the library
"Jeezes…" The teenage boy groaned, looking at the few books he had found. "These look… long."
Harry had searched the shelves thoroughly, but had only found three hard-back books that could possibly help him. He sat down at a wooden library table and slammed the books down, and picked one of them from the pile.
Opening the dark black book entitled 'Snakes: From Rattlesnakes to Basilisks' Harry skimmed to the index.
Seeing that there were four or five pages on Basilisks, he flipped to that section and began to read.
Basilisk: A Mythical Creature or A Truly Alive Beast?
Many snake experts express their doubts when dealing with the topic of the mythical beast, even though the extensive writing about the snake, written by Salazar Slytherin himself. The series of documents are currently in possession of the Malfoy family. The family keeps the documents quite secret, so many have to work off speculation when writing of Basilisks.
It is said that Basilisks kill with a single look into their eyes, or a single drop of venom in your veins. It is speculated that Basilisks gain the magic for their eyes from their mother's venom, which goes into a unique sac underneath their eyelids and develops into their deadly visions.
Few can say that they own basilisk venom, and fewer believe them. A case of one man who allegedly got his hands on the toxin was published in the Daily Prophet. Andrew Zim, a middle aged wizard, had ingested the venom as an experiment. His family knew of it, and notified the press, so the man's story would be known. It seems that Andrew's magic became wild and unpredictable, harming others when he was angry. Depressed, he committed suicide before more data could be acquired.
Grimacing at the passage, Harry quickly closed the book. That was… informative. Drumming his fingers on the table, Harry thought back to the reading.
It said that basilisks get powers from the mum's poison. Merlin. Am I going to be able to kill people with a look? He shuddered at the thought. But I don't think I would… Cause it said they had those sac-things. The guy hadn't killed people… just harm them with his magic…
That wasn't much better, really.
Harry was about to pull out another book when a voice from behind made him freeze.
"A Potter studying. What an unexpected sight."
Severus sneered at the teenager's wince when he heard the man's voice. It wasn't like he was going to attack the boy!
"What, professor?"
The tone was sullen, and filled with annoyance. Snape had to bite back a caustic response. He was here for a purpose, no need to get the boy into a blind rage.
Even if he had healed Potter, his curiosity concerning his home life had not been abated. Severus would get his answers from the boy, no matter what.
"Turn around when I talk to you, Potter." The brat grudgingly turned to him, but kept his gaze on the floor.
Now, how would he phrase his questions… He had to maneuver the boy into telling him the truth, but how would that work out? He wasn't foolish enough to believe that Potter would admit to the abuse straight out, and it wasn't like he even trusted Severus… Could he catch the boy telling a lie and pressure him into admitting the truth?
On the other hand, the best he could probably get from that would be a 'my relatives don't like me' and Snape needed the specifics in order to get the boy removed from his relatives. It wasn't like Dumbledore would refuse to move his Golden Boy, but the Ministry would have to be informed, and if there wasn't explicit details on to why, Fudge could possibly forbid the whole thing, since the Dursleys' were the boy's legal guardians.
Deciding that just standing here, saying nothing, wouldn't get him anywhere, Snape quickly told Potter, "Headmaster Dumbledore and I have a question relating to the venom developing."
Potter eyes rose from their staring match with the floor at Dumbledore's name. Curious, he asked, "What's the question?"
Snape gave the boy his best 'tell the truth or die' stare, and questioned, "Why didn't your loving family notify us of the signs of your sickness? You spent all summer with them. Surely they would of noticed you having painful fits and shaking all the time." There. Let's see how he answers this.
Cringing, Potter paused before answering. "Um… I told them it was nothing, just a cold…" He gave a sheepish smile. "I didn't want to worry them…"
"Even if they were idiotic enough to believe that it was merely a cold, I had gotten a different impression of your relationship with them by your numerous attempts to stay for the summer, Potter." Snape inwardly snickered when the boy's smiles was quickly wiped away. "And you never return to them for holidays… I think you wouldn't care at all if they started to worry. Stop lying, you ungrateful moron."
"Why would I lie about that?" Potter had the temerity to laugh! It was a nervous, fake laugh, but it was still was quite unwelcome in Snape's eyes!
"Pott-" Directing his best glare, Snape started to demand a truthful explanation when the books on the table caught his eye. "Why are you researching Basilisks?" It was such an odd concept, Potter reading something not required for school, that he had to ask.
"J-just out of curiosity." The stutter revealed the lie easily, making Severus even more intrigued. Why would he avoid answering truthfully to why he was reading a book?
"Then, what does the addition of Basilisk Venom do to a relatively normal potion?" Severus was curious on if the Boy-Wonder could learn anything without Granger there to walk him through it.
"I dunno." Apparently not then. The child gave him a annoyed look, and then mumbled, "Is there anything else you wanted, Snape?"
Instead of replying, he reached out for one of the books and flipped through it. "Interesting choice, Potter." Why was the boy researching the affects of toxins? A possibility flew into his mind in an instant.
"Were there complications with the cure? Is that why you're researching this?" He forced himself to say it in a calm voice, and not let the growing anger seep through. Potter peeked up at him, and gave an obvious lie.
"No. Course not…." He didn't meet Severus's eyes though, which was good luck on his part, Snape didn't think he could stop himself from using Legilimency from discerning the truth from Potter's bold-faced lie.
"You fooli-" Severus started, intending to demand the truth, when a most abhorred voice called out from the library entrance.
"Severus, good day!" Lupin, clothed in threadbare robes, strolled up to him. And the dirty animal dared to use his first name, as if they were friends!
"It's Professor Snape to you, Lupin!" He snarled at the werewolf, trying to hide the instinctual fear blossoming in his chest. The beast just gave a sad smile, and apologized.
"And who is-" Lupin turned to Potter and ceased talking, suddenly paling. "Harry?"
Potter, confused, looked up at the monster, and questioned, "Who are you?"
Snape could see where this was going, and before Lupin could bear his heart out to the boy and tell thousands of glorifying stories of his days with James Potter, Snape snapped, "What do you want, Lupin?"
Wrenching his eyes off Potter, the werewolf turned to Snape. "All I needed was confirmation that my, erm, request will be ready in time." So he wanted to make sure that Snape was actually going to brew the Wolfsbane Potion?
"It will be ready in time, Lupin." Snape snarled, perturbed that Lupin thought that he was low enough to forget about it or even withhold it. "Potter, you have detention for lying to me numerous times. Tonight at eight."
He glided out of the library, ignoring the brat's splutters of protests and mentally swearing to get the full story of Potter's home life tonight.
A.N: Sorry for the delay! Hope you liked this chapter.
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